HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2020 0902 CCSA REG ITEM 10FCITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of September 2, 2020
ACTION Approved Staff Recommendation.
BY B.Garza.
F. Consider Response to Ventura County Grand Jury 2019-2020 Final Report on
Human Trafficking in Ventura County. Staff Recommendation: Approve the draft
response to the Grand Jury report findings and recommendations and authorize
the Mayor to sign and submit the response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior
Court. (Staff: Victor Fazio, Captain)
Item: 10.F.
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Victor Fazio, Captain
DATE: 09/02/2020 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Consider Response to Ventura County Grand Jury 2019-2020 Final
Report on Human Trafficking in Ventura County
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On May 21, 2020, the Ventura County Grand Jury provided City Council and the City
Manager with a final report of its investigation entitled, “Human Trafficking in Ventura
County.” The Grand Jury concluded that differences in County and city massage parlor
ordinances allow illicit businesses to avoid legal consequences. The Grand Jury also
concluded that coordinating ordinances regarding massage parlors among the County
and cities within the County will improve effectiveness of enforcement operations.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE
This action does not support a current strategic directive.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with providing a response to the Grand Jury or
implementing any of the recommendations provided in the report.
STAFF RECOMMENATION
Approve the draft response to the Grand Jury report findings and recommendations and
authorize the Mayor to sign and submit the response to the Presiding Judge of the
Superior Court.
Attachment 1: Response to Grand Jury Report Form
Attachment 2: 2019-2020 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report Human Trafficking
in Ventura County
Item: 10.F.
312
ATTACHMENT 1
Grand Jury
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
(805)477-1600
Fax: (805)658-4523
grandjury.countyofventura.org
Response to Grand Jury Report Form
Report Title: Human Trafficking in Ventura County
Date: September 2, 2020
Response by: Janice Parvin Title: Mayor - City of Moorpark
FINDINGS I CONCLUSIONS
• I (we) agree with the findings/ conclusions numbered: _C-03, C-04, R-01 _
• I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the Findings/ Conclusions numbered:
___________
(Attach a statement specifying any portions of the Findings/ Conclusions that are
disputed; include an explanation of the reasons.)
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Recommendations numbered _ ____ have been implemented.
(Attach a summary describing the implemented actions and date completed.)
• Recommendations number R-01 have not yet been implemented but will be
implemented in the future.
(Attach a time frame for the implementation.)
• Recommendations numbered require further analysis.
• Recommendations numbered __ will not be implemented because they are not
warranted or are not reasonable.
Date: ________________________ Signed: ________________________
Number of pages attached: ___1___
313
City of Moorpark City Council Responses to Ventura County Grand Jury 2019-2020
Final Report, Human Trafficking in Ventura County
Page 1
GRAND JURY REPORT FINDINGS (in italics)
AND CITY OF MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES
C-03 The Grand Jury concluded that differences in County and city massage parlor
ordinances allow illicit businesses to avoid legal consequences. (FA-22, FA-23).
C-04 The Grand Jury concluded that coordinating ordinances regarding massage
parlors among the County and cities within the County will improve the effectiveness of
enforcement operations (FA-23, FA-24).
RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS:
R-01 The Grand Jury recommends the County and each of the cities within the County
coordinate their respective ordinances regarding massage parlors through the efforts of
the Task Force. (C-03, C-04).
City Response: The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) is the contract law
enforcement agency for the City of Moorpark. The City understands that the Ventura
County Human Trafficking Task Force, led by VCSO, was formed to deal with issues
related to Human Trafficking in the unincorporated areas as well as all cities in the
County. The City understands in the next six months, the Task Force will take a
leadership role in forming a working group to evaluate, modify, and recommend
changes to pre-existing massage parlor ordinances in the cities of Ventura County and
the unincorporated areas. The working group will consist of representatives from each
city government, City Attorneys, City Code Compliance, Ventura County Resource
Management Agency, the District Attorney’s Office, stakeholders in the massage
industry and community representatives. The City has also asked Investigators from the
Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force to continue to evaluate each cities’
ordinances and draft proposed guidelines and changes.
314
county of ventura
May 21 , 2020
Confidential
Janice Parvin, Mayor
City Council, City of Moorpark
799 Moorpark A venue
Moorpark, CA 93021
Dear Mayor Parvin,
Grand Jury
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
(805 ) 477-1600
Fa x: (805 ) 658-4523
grandjury .countyofventura.org
RECEIVED
MAY 2 1 2020
CITY CLERK'S DIVISION
CITY OF MOORPARK
The Ventura County Grand Jury has completed the attached report titled Human Trafficking in Ventura
County. This copy of the report is being provided to you two days in advance of its public release, as
required by California Penal Code §933.05 (f), which states:
A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the portion of the grand jury report
relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the
approval of the presiding judge. No officer, agency, department, or governing body of a public
agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the final report.
Please check the last page of text of the report for the timing of your response , if any, as required by the
Penal Code. Section 933 .05 of the Penal Code is attached for your reference . Also attached is a form for
your responses to Grand Jury findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Please keep in mind that this report must be kept confidential until its public release by the Grand Jury.
Respectfully, (
/L_,J_j '74.-e '
Anida Margolis, Foreperson u
2019-2020 Ventura County Grand Jury
ATTACHMENT 2
315
California Penal Code Section 933.05
(a) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury finding, the
responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding.
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the
response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an
explanation of the reasons therefor.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury
recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following
actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the
implemented action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in
the future, with a timeframe for implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope
and parameters of an analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be
prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being
investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when
applicable. This timeframe shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of
the grand jury report.
( 4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not
reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
(c) However, if a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or
personnel matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both
the agency or department head and the board of supervisors shall respond if requested
by the grand jury, but the response of the board of supervisors shall address only those
budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some decision-making authority. The
response of the elected agency or department head shall address all aspects of the
findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department.
(d) A grand jury may request a subject person or entity to come before the grand jury
for the purpose of reading and discussing the findings of the grand jury report that
relates to that person or entity in order to verify the accuracy of the findings prior to
their release.
(e) During an investigation, the grand jury shall meet with the subject of that
investigation regarding the investigation, unless the court, either on its own
determination or upon request of the foreperson of the grand jury, determines that
such a meeting would be detrimental.
(f) A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the portion of the grand
jury report relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release
and after the approval of the presiding judge. No officer, agency, department, or
governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the
public release of the final report.
316
county of ventura
Grand Jury
800 So uth Vi cto ri a Avenue
Ven t ura, CA 93009
(805 ) 477-1600
Fa x: (805 ) 658-45 23
grandju ry.countyofventura .org
Response to Grand Jury Report Form
Report Title-c
Report Date:
Response by:
FINDINGS I CONCLUSIONS
Title:
• I (we) agree with the Facts/ Conclusions numbered: _____________ _
• I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the Facts/ Conclusions numbered:
(Attach a statement specifying any portions of the Facts/ Conclusions that are disputed;
including an exp lanation of the reasons.)
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Recommendations numbered ________ have been implemented.
(Attach a summary describing the implemented actions and date completed.)
• Recommendations number _______ have not yet been implemented , but will be
implemented in the future .
(Attach a time frame for the implementation.)
• Recommendations numbered ___________ require further analysis.
• Recommendations numbered ___________ will not be implemented because
they are not warranted or are not reasonable.
Date: -------Signed: _____________ _
Number of pages attached: ___ _
317
2019 -2020
Ventura County Grand Jury
Final Report
Human Trafficking in
Ventura County
April 8, 2020
318
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319
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
Human Trafficking in Ventura County
Summary
Human trafficking is not just a national or state problem, it is a problem in
Ventura County (County).
Also known as modern-day slavery, human trafficking is a crime that involves
compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or sex. It is often misidentified
as other crimes such as prostitution, child abuse, domestic violence, unsafe
working conditions or human smuggling. The crime victim is frequently
misidentified as the crime perpetrator.
An investigation was initiated by the 2019-2020 Ventura County Grand Jury
(Grand Jury) to determine if the County has a coordinated policy to address the
issue of human trafficking, including adequate funding, staffing, training and the
appropriate services available for victims.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office (VCSO) formed the Ventura County Human
Trafficking Task Force (Task Force) in January 2020 to coordinate the efforts of
governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations in the County to combat
human trafficking. As part of the Task Force, Interface Children & Family
Services (Interface) agreed to provide victim services, training and community
outreach. The Grand Jury concluded that the formation of the Task Force is a
significant step forward in combatting both sex trafficking and labor trafficking in
the County and commends each of the members of the Task Force for
undertaking this concerted effort.
The Grand Jury found that some massage parlors in the County operate as illicit
sex businesses. The Grand Jury recommends the County and each of the cities
within the County coordinate their respective ordinances regarding massage
parlors through the efforts of the Task Force and designate at least one
employee, from an appropriate County agency, to coordinate the investigation
and enforcement of the ordinances regarding massage parlors.
The Grand Jury found that both the Task Force and California State University
Channel Islands Center for Community Engagement would benefit from a
partnership through which the Task Force is helped with certain administrative
matters and the University students are able to participate in service learning
projects.
A significant number of indigenous Oaxacan people, the majority being Mixtecs
from Southern Mexico, live and work primarily as agricultural laborers in the
County. Many speak only their native language, Mixteco, and find it difficult to
communicate with law enforcement and victim support services. The Grand Jury
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 1
320
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
recommends the Task Force's community outreach efforts include culturally
appropriate methods to engage that community.
Many victims of human sex trafficking in the County are from China and Taiwan.
Individuals from China read "simplified Chinese," while individuals from Taiwan
read "traditional Chinese." These two forms of written Chinese use different
characters. The Grand Jury recommends the Ventura County District Attorney's
Office (VCDA) provide human trafficking posters in simplified Chinese as well as
traditional Chinese.
Background
Human trafficking is a complex organized criminal activity. It is often
misidentified as other crimes, such as prostitution, child abuse, domestic
violence, unsafe working conditions and human smuggling. (Ref-01)
An investigation was initiated by the Grand Jury to determine if the County has
a coordinated policy to address the issue of human trafficking, including
adequate funding, staffing, training and available services for the victims.
According to the California Attorney General, "Human trafficking, also known as
trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling
or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial
sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological, and may
involve the use of violence, threats, lies or debt bondage. Exploitation of a minor
for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of
force, fraud or coercion was used. Human trafficking does not require travel or
transportation of the victim across local, state or international borders." (Ref-02)
Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or
obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act. Severe forms of
trafficking include sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by
force, fraud or coercion or in which the person induced to perform the act is
under 18 years of age. (Ref-03)
"Labor trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, or transportation of a
person for labor services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion .... Labor
trafficking arises in many situations, including domestic servitude, restaurant
work, janitorial work, factory work, migrant agricultural work, and construction."
(Ref-02)
"There is no single profile of a trafficking victim. Victims of human trafficking
include not only men and women lured into forced labor by the promise of a
better life in the United States, but also boys and girls who were born and raised
here in California. Trafficking victims come from diverse backgrounds ... , but one
characteristic that they usually share is some form of vulnerability. Trafficking
2 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
321
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
victims are often isolated from their families and social networks and, in some
cases, are separated from their country of origin, native language and culture.
Many domestic victims of sex trafficking are runaway or homeless youth and/or
come from backgrounds of sexual and physical abuse, incest, poverty or
addiction. Traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities, promising the victims love, a
good job or a more stable life." (Ref-02)
"Some of the barriers to identifying victims include a lack of public awareness
about trafficking, a lack of awareness and training among law enforcement and
other professionals who may have direct contact with victims, difficulty in
distinguishing between smuggling and trafficking, and insufficient resources to
investigate potential trafficking cases." (Ref-04)
California Penal Code Section 13519.14 requires all law enforcement officers to
receive training in the identification and handling of human trafficking.
(Ref-05) California SB 970 requires hotels to provide awareness training to
employees who are likely to come in contact with victims of human trafficking.
(Ref-06) Currently firefighters and emergency medical technicians are not
required to receive training regarding human trafficking. (Ref-07) Interface has
raised awareness in the community by training hotel staff, bus drivers and
medical service providers to recognize the signs of human trafficking and
methods to report appropriately. (Ref-08)
Prior Efforts to Combat and Address Human Trafficking in the County.
The passage of the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2005 made
human trafficking a felony in California. (Ref-09)
For the past five years, Ventura County Children & Family Services (VCCFS) has
received California grant funds of $500,000 per year for the Respectfully
Empowering and Defining Yourself (READY) program, which provides services to
child victims of human trafficking. (Ref-10)
California SB 1193, enacted in 2012, requires posters with human trafficking
hotline numbers to be displayed in several categories of public places and
businesses. (Ref-11)
Inclusion of nonprofit organizations in the human trafficking strategy has been
an effective way of providing services to the victims. The Ventura County
Coalition Against Human Trafficking (VCCAHT) was formed in 2015 as the first
formal response to human trafficking in the County. (Ref-01)
VCSO has been actively pursuing human trafficking crimes by assigning
resources from the Organized Crimes Unit. Investigations in Thousand Oaks in
2016 resulted in five arrests and contacts with 18 adult victims. An investigation
in Camarillo in 2018 resulted in one arrest and contacts with five victims,
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 3
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2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report
including two adults and three minors. All those arrested were prosecuted.
(Ref-12)
The County established a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2019 with
seven County agencies to address commercially sexually exploited children.
(Ref-13)
Since 2007, Soroptomists International of Oxnard has organized an annual rally
event "STOP Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery" to bring attention to the
issue. In 2019, the County pledged $2,500 for the 2020 event. Also in 2019,
Soroptomists International of Oxnard launched a public awareness campaign
consisting of five billboards, five bus shelter ads and a 30-second video shown in
five local movie houses. In January every year, the restaurant chain In-N-Out
Burger holds a public awareness campaign to raise funds to help victims of
human trafficking.
Since 2016, Interface has helped 80 human trafficking survivors by providing
programs and in-person emergency response for adult victims of human
trafficking. (Ref-14) Forever Found, an international nonprofit organization,
supports the needs of the County in the rescue of minor victims, assisting
survivors and supporting them in their recovery. (Ref-15)
Dignity Health, a health care provider which operates medical facilities in the
County, has a human trafficking response and training program (updated
October 2019) to ensure that trafficked persons are identified and assisted in
health care settings. (Ref-16)
Methodology
The Grand Jury reviewed the following documents:
• County of Ventura, Application for Federal Assistance SF-424, dated
June 10, 2019
• Interface Children & Family Services, Ventura County Human
Trafficking Task Force -Victim Services Application to the Bureau of
Justice Assistance of the United States Department of Justice (BJA)
The Grand Jury conducted interviews with representatives of the following
entities and reviewed their respective websites:
• The City of Ventura Community Development Department
• 4Kids2Kids, Inc.
• Family to Family
• Forever Found
• Interface
• Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP)
4 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
323
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
• Santa Paula Latino Town Hall
• Santa Paula Police Department
• Soroptomists International of Oxnard
• Ventura County Board of Supervisors
• VCCFS
• Ventura County Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Program
• VCDA
• Ventura County Family Justice Center
• Ventura County Farmworkers Resources Program
• Ventura County Fire Department
• Ventura County Office of Education
• vcso
• The cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and
Ventura
The Grand Jury also reviewed the websites of:
• California Department of Justice, Attorney General
• United States Department of Justice
• United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California
• National Human Trafficking Hotline
• VCCAHT
• The Polaris Project
In October 2017, the California Legislature enacted AB 1227, the Human
Trafficking Prevention Education and Training Act (AB 1227), that required the
sex education curriculum for middle and high school students include education
regarding human trafficking prevention. AB 1227 was effective for the 2019-
2020 school year. The Grand Jury concluded a review of the implementation of
the requirements of AB 1227 was outside the scope of this report and,
accordingly, this report does not address the implementation of AB 1227.
Facts
FA-01. In 1990, the federal government indicted a farmer in Semis for
extortion and slavery of more than 300 farmworkers from Mexico. This
was reported as the first identified case of human trafficking in the
County. (Ref-17)
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 5
324
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
FA-02. In 2018, California accounted for 1,656 (15%) of the human trafficking
cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, significantly
more than any other state. (Ref-18)
FA-03. The US 101 corridor between Los Angeles and San Francisco through
the County is both a transit route for trafficking and a destination due to
its large population, proximity to Mexico, significant immigrant
population and easy access to transportation. (Ref-17)
FA-04. According to the VCSO, victims are bought and sold in motels and
hotels lining the US 101 corridor through advertising on the internet.
(Ref-17)
FA-05. VCCAHT has documented cases of both sex trafficking and labor
trafficking. Victims have been male and female, adults and children,
citizens and undocumented people of many ethnicities. (Ref-01)
FA-06. A survey conducted by VCCAHT of nine government and nonprofit
organizations and agencies identified 57 human trafficking victims from
January 2014 to April 2016 in the County. (Ref-01)
FA-07. In January 2016, the City of Ventura Police Department conducted a
"demand" operation by posting a fictitious online ad offering sex for
sale. The ad received over 100 responses in just under eight hours.
People responding to the ad were told the person for sale was a minor.
Officers made four arrests. (Ref-19)
FA-08. In April 2016, a "demand" operation conducted by the Oxnard Police
Department received responses from 109 potential purchasers, resulting
in 14 arrests. (Ref-19)
FA-09. Between January 26, 2020 and February 1, 2020, over 70 federal, state
and local law enforcement agencies and community organizations
participated in "Operation Reclaim and Rebuild," a crackdown on sex
trafficking. This statewide operation resulted in 76 adult and 11 minor
victims being recovered, 266 males arrested for the charge of
solicitation and 27 suspected traffickers arrested.
(Ref-20)
FA-10. In January 2020, VCSO, Interface and Forever Found participated in
"Operation Reclaim and Rebuild" that resulted in four victims contacted
and two other individuals arrested in the County. (Ref-12)
FA-11. Many victims of human trafficking do not self-identify as victims.
(Ref-17)
6 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
325
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
FA-12. Victims, particularly international victims, frequently refuse to cooperate
due to their common distrust of people they perceive to be in powerful
positions and/or retaliation from their trafficker. (Ref-04, Ref-17)
FA-13. Human trafficking is significantly underreported. (Ref-21)
FA-14. The number of human trafficking victims receiving assistance in the
County during the identified years was as follows:
Year Number
2014-2015 6
2016 10
2017 21
2018 24
2019 12
Total 73
(Ref-17)
FA-15. Of these 73 human trafficking victims receiving assistance between
2014 and 2019, 69 were adults and four were youths; 47 were sex
trafficking victims, five were labor trafficking victims and 21 were
victims of sex/labor trafficking. (Ref-17)
FA-16. The VCSO and VCDA state that enforcement of human trafficking laws
and ordinances is complicated and expensive. (Ref-12, Ref-22)
FA-17. In 2019, the County, through VCSO, applied for and received an
$800,000 grant over three years from BJA to form the Task Force. (Ref-
17, Ref-23)
FA-18. The members of the Task Force include:
Local Law Enforcement: All police departments in the County, VCSO,
the Ventura County Probation Department and the California Highway
Patrol
Federal Law Enforcement: Federal Bureau of Investigation and
Homeland Security Investigations
Prosecution: VCDA, the California Attorney General and the United
States Attorney's Office
Human Trafficking Victim Service Providers: Interface, VCCFS,
Forever Found and VCCAHT
Regulatory Agencies: Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner and
the United States Department of Labor
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 7
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2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
Other Key Partners: Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, MICOP and the
Polaris Project (Ref-24)
FA-19. In its efforts to coordinate governmental agencies and nonprofit
organizations in the County, the Task Force states it will take the
following actions:
8
Law Enforcement and Prosecution
• Develop protocols for the investigation, arrest and prosecution of
human traffickers and purchasers
• In the second and third years of the grant, conduct short-and
long-term investigations and other covert procedures using and
refining protocols
Victim Services
• Develop victim-centered and trauma-informed protocols for
human trafficking victims
• Develop screening and victim service referrals and facilitate the
use of victim service protocols
• Create a plan for conducting proactive victim-centered
investigations of labor and sex trafficking in collaboration with law
enforcement
Professional Training and Community Outreach
• Develop a plan for professional training regarding human
trafficking and protocols for raising public awareness and
community outreach
• Develop training videos and conduct training for investigators,
patrol officers and those most likely to interact with human
trafficking victims
Data Collection
• Develop protocols for data collection and analysis as well as data
sharing and confidentiality
Sustainability
• Develop a plan to assess the Task Force's performance
• Develop a plan to address sustaining the Task Force's operations,
investigations and victim services after federal funding ends (Ref-
24)
Human Trafficking in Ventura County
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2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
FA-20. In coordination with the Task Force, Interface applied for and received a
$900,000 grant over three years from BJA to provide victim services to
the Task Force and provide training and community outreach across the
County. (Ref-25)
FA-21. In conjunction with the Task Force, Interface states it will provide the
following victim services, directly or indirectly:
• Case management
• Child care
• Client intake, client orientation and life skills
• Housing, clothing, food and basic necessities
• Crisis intervention and 24-hour response
• Assistance in obtaining or replacing necessary documents
• Education, family support and reunification
• Interpreter and translator services
• Legal, medical, dental and mental health care services
• System-based victim advocacy (Ref-26)
FA-22. Some massage parlors operate as illicit sex businesses. (Ref-27)
FA-23. Ordinances regarding massage parlors differ among the County and the
cities within the County. (Ref-17)
FA-24. The Task Force is currently developing a model ordinance that is
intended to help curb illicit massage parlors and proposes to have that
or a similar ordinance adopted by the County and all the cities within
the County. (Ref-12)
FA-25. California State University Channel Islands established the Center for
Community Engagement (CCE) providing service-learning projects for
students. These projects provide partnerships with nonprofit
organizations and governmental agencies in the County, and may
include translation, outreach activities, event organizing, advocacy,
research and report writing, data analysis and computer work.
(Ref-28)
FA-26. Twenty thousand indigenous Oaxacan people, the majority being
Mixtecs from Southern Mexico, work primarily as agricultural laborers in
the County. The Mixtec community is culturally and linguistically
isolated. Many speak only their native Mixteco, which is not a written
language. (Ref-29)
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 9
328
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
FA-27. In the interviews with advocates for indigenous farm laborers in the
County, all emphasized the need for more trilingual (Mixteco, Spanish
and English) "trusted messengers" as part of the efforts to combat
human trafficking in the County. (Ref-30)
FA-28. Many victims of sex trafficking in the County are from China and
Taiwan. (Ref-27)
FA-29. Individuals from China read "simplified Chinese," while individuals from
Taiwan read "traditional Chinese." These two forms of written Chinese
use different characters. (Ref-31)
FA-30. California SB 1193 requires posters with human trafficking hotline
numbers to be displayed in several categories of public places and
businesses. (Ref-11)
FA-31. VCDA has human trafficking posters in English, Spanish and traditional
Chinese available for download from its website. (Ref-32)
FA-32. The State of California Department of Justice, Attorney General's Office,
has human trafficking posters in simplified and traditional Chinese
available for download from its website. (Ref-33)
Conclusions
C-01. The Grand Jury concluded that both human trafficking in sex and labor
exists in the County. (FA-01, FA-02, FA-03, FA-04, FA-05,
FA-06, FA-07, FA-08, FA-09, FA-10, FA-11, FA-12, FA-13, FA-14,
FA-15, FA-16)
C-02. The Grand Jury concluded that the formation of the Task Force is a
significant step forward in combatting both sex and labor human
trafficking in the County. (FA-17, FA-18, FA-19, FA-20, FA-21)
C-03. The Grand Jury concluded that differences in County and city massage
parlor ordinances allow illicit businesses to avoid legal consequence.
(FA-22, FA-23)
C-04. The Grand Jury concluded that coordinating ordinances regarding
massage parlors among the County and the cities within the County will
improve the effectiveness of enforcement operations. (FA-23,
FA-24)
C-05. The Grand Jury concluded that dedicating at least one person to
coordinate the enforcement of massage parlor ordinances will improve
the effectiveness of enforcement operations. (FA-23, FA-24)
10 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
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2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report
C-06. The Grand Jury concluded that the Task Force can expand its resources
for accomplishing its stated goals by partnering on projects with the
CCE. (FA-25)
C-07. The Grand Jury concluded that farm laborers who only speak Mixteco
find it difficult to communicate with police and service providers.
(FA-26, FA-27)
C-08. The Grand Jury concluded that most of the victims of sex trafficking
from China cannot read the posters regarding human trafficking written
in traditional Chinese posted in the County. (FA-28, FA-29, FA-30,
FA-31)
C-09. The Grand Jury concluded that posters in simplified Chinese regarding
human trafficking are available. (FA-32)
Recommendations
R-01. The Grand Jury recommends the County and each of the cities within
the County coordinate their respective ordinances regarding massage
parlors through the efforts of the Task Force. (C-03, C-04)
R-02. The Grand Jury recommends the Environmental Health Division of the
Ventura County Resource Management Agency or other appropriate
County agency designate at least one employee to coordinate the
investigation(s) and enforcement of the ordinances regarding massage
parlors. (C-05)
R-03. The Grand Jury recommends the Task Force contact CCE to determine if
there is a partnership arrangement that will benefit the efforts of the
Task Force. (C-06)
R-04. The Grand Jury recommends, as part of the Task Force's community
outreach efforts, it include culturally appropriate outreach methods,
including radio broadcasts, attendance at community meetings, cultural
festivals and health fairs, as well as audio/visual media and illustrated
pamphlets to reach the indigenous population in the County. (C-07)
R-05. The Grand Jury recommends VCDA make available human trafficking
posters in simplified Chinese as well as traditional Chinese. (C-08,
C-09)
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 11
330
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury
Responses
Responses Required From:
City Council, City of Camarillo (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Fillmore (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Counc il, City of Moorpark (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Ojai (C -03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Oxnard (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Port Hueneme (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Santa Paula (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Simi Valley (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Thousand Oaks (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
City Council, City of Ventura (C -03, C-04) (R-01)
Ventura County Board of Superv isors (C-03, C-04) (R-01)
Responses Requested From:
Final Report
Env ironmental Health Division of the Ventura County Resource Management
Agency (C-05) (R-02)
Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force (C -06, C-07) (R-03, R-04)
Ventura County District Attorney (C-08, C-09) (R-05)
Commendations
The Grand Jury commends each of the members of the Task Force for
undertaking a concerted effort to combat human trafficking in the County.
(C -01, C-02)
References
Ref-01. Ventura County Coa lition Against Human Trafficking, Human
Trafficking in Ventura County, August 2016
http://www.vccaht.org/wp-content/u ploads/2016/ 11/Prevalence-
Report-on -HT-in -VC. pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-02. State of Californ i a Department of Justice, Attorney General, "What is
Human Traffick ing?"
https: //oag .ca .gov /human -trafficking/what-is
Accessed April 8, 2020
12 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
331
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report
Ref-03. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, 22 USC 7101, Section
103(8)-(9)
https: //www .congress.gov/106/plaws/publ386/PLA W -106publ386. pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-04. Human Trafficking in California Toolkit for Judicial Officers, 2017, Page
4
http://www .cou rts . ca. gov/documents/human -trafficking -tool kit-
cfcc. pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-OS. California Penal Code Section 13519.14
https: //codes. find law .com/ca/penal -code/pen -sect-13519 -14. html
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-06. California Senate Bill No. 970
https: //leginfo. legislature. ca .gov /faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill id = 20
1720180SB970
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-07. Grand Jury interviews of representatives of the VCSO on September 18,
2019 and Ventura County Fire Department on January 29, 2020
Ref-08. Grand Jury interview of representatives of Interface on September 26,
2019
Ref-09. California Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 2005, Section 6
http://www.leginfo .ca .gov/pub/05 -06/bill/asm/ab 0001 -
0050/ab 22 bill 20050921 chaptered.pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-10. Grand Jury interview of a representative of VCCFS on October 2, 2019
Ref-11. California Senate Bill No. 1193
http://leginfo .legislature .ca .gov /faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill id = 2011
20120SB1193
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-12. Grand Jury interview of representatives of VCSO on September 18,
2019, December 31, 2019 and February 18, 2020
Ref-13. Memorandum of Understanding for Ventura County Commercially
Sexua lly Exp loited Children (CSEC), April 2019
Ref-14. Interface
https ://www.icfs.org/services/hu man -trafficking/
Accessed April 8, 2020
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 13
332
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand Jury
Ref-15. Forever Found
https: //foreverfound. org/what -we -do/our-mission
Accessed April 8, 2020
Final Report
Ref-16. Dignity Health Human Trafficking Response Program Shared Learnings
Manual Updated -October 2019
https: //www.diqnityhealth.org/-
/media/cm/media/documents/PDFs/UPDATED%20Dignity%20Health
HTRP SharedlearninqsManual Oct%202019.ashx?la=en&hash =E 1786
D97552D34472A0SEBEBSD73F6E4AEF1D9E7
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-17. County of Ventura, Application for Federal Assistance SF-424
Ref-18. National Human Trafficking Hotline, Hotline Statistic s
https: //h uma ntraffickinq hot Ii ne .orq/states
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-19. Forever Found. About Human Trafficking
https: //foreverfou nd. org/what-we-do/about-hu man -trafficking
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-20. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Villanueva and the
Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force Announce Arrests
and Rescues by California Law Enforcement
https: //lasd. org/ operation -recla i m-and-rebuild -2020/
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-21. Polaris Project. Myths, Facts, and Statistics
https: //pol a risproiect. org/myths-facts -a nd-statistics/
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-22. Grand Jury interview of a representative of VCDA on December 19,
2019
Ref-23. VCSO Press Release, December 19, 2019
https: //local. nixle.com/alert/7715342/
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-24. County of Ventura, Application for Federal Assistance SF-424, List of
Receivables for the Human Trafficking Grant
Ref-25. Interface Chi ldren & Fami ly Serv ic es Ventura County Human
Trafficking Task Force -Victim Serv ice s Application to BJA
Ref-26. Interface Children & Family Services Ventura County Human
Trafficking Task Force -Victim Serv ices Application to BJA, Appendix
B, Mandatory Services
14 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
333
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand .Jury Final Report
Ref-27. Polaris Project. Human Trafficking in Illicit Massage Businesses,
Executive Summary
https: //pol a risproject.org /wp-content/uploads/2019 /09 /H u man -
Trafficking-in-I 11 icit-M assage-Businesses-Executive-Summa ry. pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-28. California State University Channel Islands, Center for Community
Engagement
https://www.csuci.edu /servicelearning /community partners.htm
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-29. Mixteco.org
http: //mixteco.org/mixtecs/
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-30. Grand Jury interviews of representatives of MICOP on December 9,
2019 and Santa Paula Latino Town Hall on January 30, 2020
Ref-31. Pangeanic. What is the difference between Simplified Chinese and
Traditional Chinese?
https://www.pangeanic.com /knowledge center/w hat-is-the-
difference-between-simplified-chinese-and-traditional-chinese /
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-32. VCDA
https://www.vcdistrictattorney.com /wp-
content/uploads/2020 /01 /VCCAHT-HT-Poster. pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Ref-33. State of California Department of Justice, Attorney General
https: //oag .ca .gov /sites /a II/fi les/agweb/pdfs/ht/H uma nTraffickMa ndat
e SCH.pdf
Accessed April 8, 2020
Human Trafficking in Ventura County 15
334
2019 -2020 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report
Glossary
TERM DEFINITION
BJA Bureau of Justice Assistance of the United States
Department of Justice
CCE California State University Channel Islands Center
for Community Engagement
County Ventura County
Grand Jury 2019-2020 Ventura County Grand Jury
Interface Interface Children & Family Services
MICOP Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project
Task Force Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force
Trusted Messenger People from the community who are considered
safe and credible by the people they are engaging
VCCAHT Ventura County Coalition Against Human
Trafficking
VCCFS Ventura County Children & Family Services
VCDA Ventura County District Attorney
VCSO Ventura County Sheriff's Office
16 Human Trafficking in Ventura County
335